UltraViolet, the cloud-based media "digital locker," is to make a first appearance is non-English speaking territories-- Handelsblatt reports the service rolls out in a number of W. European countries from H2 2013.
Germany and France gain access to online media on 30 September 2013, with further launches in Luxembourg, Holland and Belgium to follow on yet unannounced dates.
The news comes from worldwide Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop, who tells Handelsblatt the UltraViolet service "received positive feedback." Sony leads the service together with 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Paramount and the other members (74 in total) of the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem.
Disney is absent from DECE, as is (obviously!) Apple-- after all, UltraViolet is Hollywood's attempt at freedom from the online video tyrant that is iTunes...
UltraViolet promise the streaming and downloading of purchased content on multiple platforms and devices via cloud-based digital rights authentication and licensing. Launched in October 2011, it is currently available in a limited number of English-speaking territories, namely the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Go Sony Launches UltraViolet Movie Portal in Germany (Handelsblatt)